Will the Supreme Court decision affect RUSD?

The Supreme Court released their long-awaited decision on 2 separate school integration cases. The question of the day is this – Does this affect RUSD and their voluntary desegregation plan in any way?

While many will tell you that the 2 school districts (Seattle and Louisville) face issues that RUSD does not, I beg to differ. You see, we have magnet and charter schools that DO use race as a factor in determining enrollment.

A couple of years ago, a neighbor of mine tried to enroll her son at one of the district’s charter schools. She was told outright that her child was both the wrong color and sex – they simply had already fulfilled their quota of young white males.

I value diversity, but not more than I value parental choice. My children have been fortunate enough to attend RUSD magnet schools for most of their lives. I believe that these programs should exist, and I think that the original concept of magnet schools is the best way to achieve diversity because it is voluntary – not mandated.

I feel true diversity is easier to nourish and develop when it is voluntary. There are many suburban parents that WILL send their children to an inner-city school if they perceive that the educational opportunity is a better one than the school in their neighborhood. However, no parent, whether they are black, white, green or purple want to be told that their opportunities are limited based on their skin color.

Which leads me to the next issue – will the recent Supreme Court decision have any effect on the bussing/neighborhood school/redistricting issue the RUSD board is supposed to tackle in the 2007-2008 school year?